Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-15

III. .USJ.
fesslon Of guilt, for he Is innocent, aud bad
no other statement 10 make than the one al
ready made public, but wished the Doctor
20 have prayers with him while was pres
cnt aud could sing for him. | remarked .
him, 'Tommic, tell me on your honor az a
man, and IN the fear Of God. are you guilty
Of the murder OF Fannie Llllisn Madison p
He was very calm, and smiled slightly as
he replied, i am not guilty.
al then said, " Tomcnie, will you have
anything to say on the sesfioldy He an
sweTcd. Il think not. II do, IL viii be
very few words; and II am 10 be hung |
would like 1t TO pass of as quietly as pos'i-
blc."
"Then," said |, "ii you are innocent.
and your trust is in God, you will walk out
on The scJilold without trcm0r, wont
your"
:" Yos, so help me God, / will" be slid.
He ibtn asked me 10 sing him Home.
Sweet Home ! did so. My feelings
were sHch that forgot the last lines Of
the first verse. lie repeated them 70 me.
/ told him al 100 that he had better go to
bed and get to sleep. as | did not think
there was any chance Of his bearing from
the Governor. He shock hands heartily
With me, offered 30 help me on with my
coat, and said, 'GOd bless you; come to-
morrow morning. | thank you for the
kindness you have shown me in coming as
often as you have, and ! most fervently
hOTe that God will reward YOU
al then left"
Did you see him this morning!" asked
the reporter.
ayes. called 10 bid him goodbye. |
AGAIN asked hm II be was innocent, and be
maintained thai he wss. ! then told him.
You must pay 70 God 10 help you, and
put Your trust IN Him."
"iIc answered, 4 have, and ! have ~
fears Of the sca6od.' Then he requeste 1
me 10 sing for hun. Isang three verses 0i
the hymn, How Firma Foundation ItheI
SAID goodbye"
HIs CLOTHES.
Yesterday morning Willie Cluverus,
having heard for the first time that the
CommOnW bad provided a suit Of
clothes for the prisoner 10 be executed In,
| sent out 70 a friend who accompanied him
| from King and Queen IN March to Rich
mond, and purchased through him black
diagonal suit-cutaway coat. In this suit
| The prisoner was executed.
TIE BROTHER.
Mr.. Willie Cluverius, the prisoners bro
ther, who has shown the strongest dcvO'
tion TO his brother thrOue hOut his trial,
was not at the prison yesterday, but kept
closely in his room at FOrd's IlOtcl with a
few OF his friends from King and Queen
county.
The last he saw Of his brother was the
day before, when be parted with bin. A
gentleman who was present al this time
SAID that II was a distressing scene TO wit.
ness. The prisoner was collected and
spoke words OF comfort to hIs brother.
The latter said before parting that IL Tom
mie protested his innocence on the scailOld
that he willie thought it would be a long
time before another prisoner would be
hanged in Virginia on purely circumstan-
tial evidence. The prisoner said that if by
hi, death he thought for moment that he
could be instrumental in saving his fellow.
men be would send for Mr.. Beverley Crump
and have him Withdraw all petitions In the
hands Of the Governor in his behalf.
Willie then said Brother, you are too
baSty i'm yOur conclusions"
NO.V be answered, "i am not. You
must remember that we are put here by our
Maker to do good to our fclow-men.
rhe Final Appeal 10 the Governor.
Mr.. Beverley Crump was at the Jail early
after breakfast. Messrs. Pollard and Evan,
were not in the city. Judge Crnmp went
10 see the Governor after II O'Clock, and
remained until nearly ~ O'Clock. The
Governor was kind and patient in hearing
everything be had 10 say, but could not see
that any Of the facts that had been pro.
ducCd warranted further interference with
the execution OF the law.
shortly after Judge Crump left Mr.. Bey.
crley Crump arrived, and was clOseted
with the Governor for some time. Upon
leaving the Governor Mr.. Crump went di.
rectly TO the Jail and communicated 10 the
Sergeant and to the prisoner the failure to
secure further timC.
About 10 O'Clock Mr.. Crump was seen to
leave the Jail and enter the Governor
Office at the Capitol. where he stayed fes
minutes. when he returned TO The jail b
alain entered the prisoners cell, accOmpa
MED 10y Sergeant Smith.
MIR. Crump then told the prisoner he ha'
seen the Governor. and there was no pros.
pect Of Executive interference.
Sergeant Smith says Cluyerius made no
remark, received the Information quietly,
and It seemed not TO affect him.
DR.. Hatcher was present with the prison.
er all the morning up to the last moment.
Preparation.
About 1880 O'Clock Sergeant Smith came
into the corridor and spoke to the Driso-
ncr'S friend, MFR. Richardson, telling him
10 bling IN the suit of clothes, as It was
time 10 dress the doomed man for eXecu.
ton.
DRESSING FOR DEATH.
The clothes were handed the prisoner,
and with a little assistance from Mr.. \. W.
Dunn, who was the prisoners "death.
watch" he dressed himself, after washing
his face and brushing his hair.
while the prisoner was making his toilet
Mr.. Clump aud DR.. Hatcher left the cell
and stopped outside for moment or two
i'm conversation. The faces Of both OF them
betraye ed excitement, which they struggled
to repress and hide. When Cluverius had
dressed they returned - the room. soon
afterwards Mr.. Crump took his final leave.
The occupants OF the cell thea were DR..
Hatcher, Sergeant Smith, Deputy Macon,
Mr.. Dunn, and the prisoner. Several
pIaycrs were offered, DR.. Hatcher leading.
HIS HANDS TIED.
After PRAYERS were over Deputy Allen
tUltlNu Win itt bitNh hdttl lllbbl EoMH
and a couple of stout ropes. The prisoners
bands were tied In front Of him and the
gown was wrapped around him, covering
him from the neck to below bis knees. His
soft, drab-cOlored hat was placed upon his
head slightly to one side.
THE CROWD.
The crowd around the iall numbered
several thousands. Jail alley was packed.
Broad street and the houses that could CON-
mand a view Of any part Of the Jail were
dotted with people. The hill up Marshall
street 10 College street was covered with
black faces. On College street an enter
priSlng person named Foster made quite
considerable sum renting out stanling-room
on his house.top at 80 cents per head.
At the Medical College the students.
standing on the roof Of the building, con-
trived, with the aid OF telescopes and field
glasses, to get good view Of the scIfi0ld.
Six men with spurs on assembled the very
tail telegraph. poles on Marshall street,
hoping from that elevated perch to get a
glimpse over the walls at the scafold.
MARCH TO THE GALLOwS.
The march 10 the gallows was then be-
gun. Mr.. Dunn threw wide open the big,
,o,dorouc doOrc and fha nqrty pmprOpd